Amahlathi outlines R314m infrastructure programme at SOMA.

STUTTERHEIM – Amahlathi Local Municipality says it has made progress in strengthening its finances and operational capacity, while major infrastructure projects are planned or under way across the municipality.

The municipality outlined its progress during its fourth annual State of the Municipal Address (SOMA) at the Mzwandile Wilson Fanti Hall in Stutterheim on Wednesday.

Mayor Cllr Nomakosazana Nongqayi delivered the address under the theme “Restoration, Resilience and Renewal”.

According to the municipality, it has achieved a funded budget, improved revenue collection, reduced its Eskom debt and introduced cost-containment measures.

For the 2026/27 financial year, expenditure on Municipal Infrastructure Grant and Municipal Disaster Recovery Grant projects is projected to approach R314 million. Amahlathi also reported securing approximately R115 million in new funding through disaster recovery and revitalisation programmes.

Projects highlighted include R36 million for Stutterheim street paving, R29 million for paving in Keiskammahoek, R16 million for the Cathcart Town Hall upgrade, R40 million for Keiskammahoek roads and R18.35 million for the Keiskammahoek Recreational Centre.

The municipality also reported installing 3,155 electricity smart meters, with a further R5 million allocated for additional installations.

Amahlathi said it had appointed a permanent chief financial officer and recruited approximately 33 permanent employees. It also reported 1,845 opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme, alongside learnerships, internships and other skills-development initiatives.

The municipality said it had acquired new refuse collection vehicles, traffic vehicles, construction equipment and other operational vehicles to strengthen service delivery.

Nongqayi said the municipality would continue focusing on financial discipline, infrastructure investment, accountability and community engagement.

“Over the past five years, tremendous work has been done to restore the integrity of our municipality, to build resilience in the face of challenges and to renew our commitment to the people we serve,” she said.